Broadcast duster



R. R. EZDORF ET AL Dec. 23,v 1930.

' BROADCAST DUSTER Filed Feb. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS RICHARD R122 DORF,

RowN,

BY ARTHUR J. B

A TTORNE Y.

Dec: 23, 1930. R. R. EZDORF ET AL 1,785,944

BROADCAST DUSTER Filed Feb. 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS RICHARD R. EzDoRF,

BYARTHUR J. BROWN,

4 TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 23, 1939 RICHARD n'nznonr, or

PATENT OFFICE WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND ARTHUR 3'.

BROWN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BROADCAST DUSTER Application filed February 6, 1929.

This invention relates to agricultural dusting machines, and more particularly to dusting machines of the type which broadcast or spread the insecticides or fungicides over Wide areas of vegetation, as distinguished from that type of machines which confine such distribution to a definite given area, such as one or more rows of growlngvegetation, and is similar in many respects to our copending application filed February 6, 1929,

Serial Number 337,771, to which specific reference is hereby made.

It is well known that machines other than the broadcast type, that is machines from which the materials are dusted or sifted on the plant or vegetation, bring the powdered material into contact with only one side of the leaves of theplant. Moreover quantities are deposited in excess of those required to properly do the work and frequently in such quantities as when concentrated on the tender growing buds or parts of the plant prove to be very injurious.

It thus will be seen in insect and disease control that materials discharged other than those so finely pulverized as to be readily carried by wind currents, after being discharged by the machine, are of a minimum or of little value (frequently injurious). Also excessive discharges of material are wasteful from an economic standpoint; since such excessive quantities perform no beneficial service where so much material is wasted.

In the many experiments and demonstrations in the practical use of the dusting machine which we have carried on we have determined that a given volume of air under a given condition of humidity or moisture content, driven from a machine at a given speed, will contain or carry only up to a given quantity of materials of known consistency, and that the speed and direction of the currents of air into which the same is discharged is a factor which must be given due consideration in performing dusting operations of the type contemplated by this invention. Accordingly we have shown in the accompanying drawings and embodied in this description essentials of a machine capable of thoroughly intermixing predetermined or known quantities of Serial No. 337,772.

materials with air currents of known capacity and velocity, and which is capable of modifying and controlling these requisite factors in a practical and simple manner.

Many'insecticides are potent when used in small quantities, also when using certain fungicides and other elements used for the treatment of specific conditions of plants, and it has been customary to use abase, or filler, or carrier, such as lime, with which the potent element is mixed in order to secure the applicatioln of a very small quantity of such element to the plant. Apparatus has heretofore been lacking for the distribution of such elements in undiluted form, or in which dilution can be held to a minimum. Such an apparatus, however, possesses great utility, for, as will be readily appreciated, a given quantity of undiluted poison, etc., within the capacity of the machine to carry at a single charging will effectively cover, when properly applied, an area much greater than when so much of the charge is made up of carrier or filler. It is possible to cover with our invention from three to ten times the area with a single charging of the machine than with other types.

Our invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following specification, together with the accompanying drawings in which I Figure I is a side elevation of the machine not showing wheels or trucks for support Figure II is the top plan view of Figure I.

Figure III is a sectional view of Figure I.

Figure IV is a detail view taken on line B-B of Figure III, showing material collector.

In the several figures like references designate like parts.

1 is the framework upon which the motor 2, fan 3, and material container or hopper 4, and other essential parts are mounted. Any suitable support, such as a pair of trucks or wheels, may be used to support or transport the machine from place to place and while in operation. Any suitable or conventional means may be used as a source of power for such transportation, such as a span of mules or a farm tractor, these things being so well known as to require no elaboration here.

5 is a clutch of conventional make used to engage shaft 6 with motor 2, whereby to transmit power to fan impeller 7, shown clearly in Figure 111. It will be understood that the motor 2 is preferably of conventional gasoline driven type, with suitable speed con trol mechanism for operating the apparatus within such range of varying speeds as desired. Shaft 6 extends through fan 3 (supporting impeller 7) through bearing 8, i auxiliary fan housing 9, and carries in said housing auxiliary fan impeller 10, the purpose of which will be more clearly set out in this description.

This shaft 6 extends to hearing 11 and has secured thereon worm 12 which engages worm wheel 13, through which rotation is transmitted to shaft 14. detachably secured to the upper extremity of which is a material collector in the form of a spider 15, shown in detail in Figure IV.

16 is a conduit leading from auxiliary fan 9 into the material hopper 4, in which conduit is located butterfly valve 17, controllable by handle 18, whereby the quantity of air emitted by auxiliary fan 9 into the bottom of material hopper 4 may be controlled.

19 is a shelf over that part of the bottom of material hopper 4, surrounding the discharge end of conduit 16 in the bottom of material hopper 4, providing a space about its periphery which serves as a pocket to relieve the material collector of foreign substances, such as stones, nails, etc, which may be contained in the powdered material deposited in the material container 4.

21 is a vertically disposed conduit pipe in material hopper 4. registering with conduit 16, from the auxiliary fan 9, conduit 21 being secured to the inner wall of the material container 4 by brackets 22, and having a cap 28 disposed over its upper extremity, with passages 24 provided thereunder for the es cape into the upper section of material container 4 of the air from auxiliary fan 9, together with the powder introduced into the air passage between the extremities of the conduits 16 and 21 by material collector 15. The cap 23 also serves to prevent conduit 21 from being filled when the cover 32 is removed and container 4 is being replenished with materials.

The space in the upper section of container 4. about the upper end of conduit 21 and above the material, becomes a separating chamber, the functions of which are herein later more fully described. From this chamber the mixture of air and material is discharged through port 25 in container 4, through conduit 26 into fan 3, from whence it is discharged over the area of vegetation being treated by a current of air generated by fan impeller 7 in fan housing 3. Fan

housing 3 may have at its discharge end 27 any suitable type of deflector, or elbow, whereby to direct or discharge the mixture of air and powder in any direction.

It will be noted that telescopically disposed within the lower extremity of conduit 21 is the short section of a conduit 28 which carries at its lower extremity the shelf, or flange, 29, approximately co-extensive with part 19 at the upper extremity of conduit 16, between which two parts material collector 15 rotates and brings the powder into the openings between the extremities of the respective conduits. Conduit 28 may be so adjusted as to vary or control at will the space between elements 19 and 29 by rod 80, which threadedly engages the top of material container 4 at 31a.

It will be readily understood that as the space between elements 19 and 29 is increased or decreased the volume of powder carried by the collector therebetween will likewise be increased or decreased. It will also be well understood. that as the volume of air may be controlled by butterfly valve 17, the amount of air passing through conduit 16. or intermixing with the material and passing" through discharge opening 24 into material container 4, may readily be controlled. To effect further nicety of control a butterfly valve may be inserted into conduit 26 as at 81.

No specific reference has been made to the particulars of the method by which the motor, auxiliary fan, or material hopper of container, is secured to the frame 1, as only conventional methods are employed which are well known in ordinary construction. The worm 12 and worm wheel 12 have been shown exposed for the better purpose of illustration, whereas it is good practice in construction to enclose such. parts, which practice is also well known and conventional in construction operations.

Lid or cover 32 for the opening 33, within the container 4, may be secured into relatively air tight position by any means, such as thumb screws, not shown.

The material collector 15, shown in detail in Figure IV, being of the contour commonly referred to as a spider, has curved arms traveling in the direction of the arrow Figure TV, collects the material from substantially the entire area of material container 4 and brings it toward the center of the axis of rotation of the material collector and passes it between the elements 19 and 29 and into the space between the registering ends of conduits 16 and 21 to be there engaged by and mixed with air passing from conduit 16 into conduit 21. This type of collector permits of a minimum obstruction to the passage of the air from auxiliary fan 9 into the upper area of container 4.

16a is an extension of conduit 16, which leads into the top of the material container llill llu at 24a and there communicates with the separation chamber above the material in the container. Valve 34 may be opened as desired to permit any part oi the air from the auxiliary fan through conduit 16 to pass directly into the separtion chamber. Valve 34 may be moved to close entirely the conduit 16 to prevent any air going upward through the mixing area and into the separation chamber through conduit 21 if desired; thus any quantity, a minimum or no quantity at all may be carried into the separation chamber through conduit 21.

It will be seen that we are able to control absolutely as desired the quantity of powder discharged from the container without in any manner restricting or diminishing the air capacity of the machine. The minimum quantity necessary only of the material being used, the air discharged by the machine, will the more readily carry the powder in the mix ture into the atmosphere and the mixture will be carried by the wind currents in a more advantageous manner onto the vegetation bein g treated.

I follows Lid or cover 32 is removed from container 4 and materials of the type to be used are deposited into container 4 until it is filled to a point below discharge opening 24 at the upper extremity of conduit 21. The lid is secured into position and the space between elements 19 and 29 adjusted by turning handle on red 30 (adjustment maybe varied at will during operation) and rod valve 34 adjusted to regulate the passage of air into the separation chamber through conduits 16 and 16a; the discharge from fan 3 is directed as desired by discharge nozzle or elbow, not shown, and motor 2 is started.

Clutch 5 connects the motor with shaft 6, thus driving fan impeller 7 and auxiliary fan, or blower, 10, the latter discharging such of the current of air generated, regulated by the butterfly valve 17, through conduit 16, past material collector 15, as is desired, thence with its mixture of material through the separating chamber in conduit 21 into the upper part of material container 4, through discharge openings 24; apart of the air as desired passes through conduit 16a into the separation chamber, thence the thoroughly airified mixture of powder passes over battle 35, through port 25 in the container 4, thence through conduit 26, past butterfly valve 31, into the intake side of fan 3, and thence out the fan at the discharge opening 27, directed v by the space between the elements19 and 29 is adjusted as desired. 7

It thus will be seen that we have provided a simple apparatus which enables us to deliver into the air over the vegetation to :be treated a properly mixed .air and powder 1 which we can control and regulate in accordance with all conditions of humidity oft-he air and consistency of the powder, together with the speed and direction of the wind into which the discharge is made.

It will be further recognized that the larger particles, or particles not properly disinte: grated, passing out of the conduit 21 through passage 24 into the separation chamber in the upper area of tank 4 will fall by gravity onto the top of the material container and only particles fine enough to be carried by and thoroughly mixed into the air will be discharged through discharge opening 25 into the material container 4. The heavier particles falling down into the material container 4 will be passed and re-passed by ma terial collector 15 between elements 19 and 29, and discharged again and again through openings 24 until disintegration occurs to such a point that the fine particles are carried out by the currents of air through discharge port 25.

Variation of the weight of the material in the container 4 when it is relatively full or relatively empty may call for an adjustment of the space between elements19 and 29, or

of the amount of air passing butterfly valve '17 or butterfly valve 31, or valve 34, in order to control the mixture of air and powder as desired. This adjustment however will be readily understood by any operator and may easily and readily be accomplished by the simple means at his disposal, in our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a dusting machine, a material con tainer, means for simultaneously introducing air into the lower and upper sectors of the container.

2. In a dusting machine, a material container, means for introducing air into the bottom of the container, means for mixing pulverulent material therewith, means for conveying the mixture into the top of the container, means in the top of the container for separating heavy particles of the material from the mixture, means for adding air to the mixture and means for discharging the final mixture over an area of vegetation.

3. The method of broadcast dusting consisting of mixing air and pulverulent material, separating the heavier particles from the mixture, adding air to the mixture and discharging the final mixture over an area of vegetation.

4. In a dusting machine, a material container, means for simultaneously introducing air into the lower and upper sectors of the container and a means regulatory of the amount of air introduced, whereby the amount of air entering one of the sectors is increased as the amount entering the other sector is decreased.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures.

RICHARD R. EZDORF. ARTHUR J. BROl/VN. 

